December 2018 Real Estate Roundup

The end of 2018 is upon us and the strong real estate market still continues to show it has legs to keep going.  2018 did not disappoint for real estate blog articles as well as this compilation of articles written in the month of December 2018 shows.  Whether you are a homeowner, home seller, homebuyer or just interested in real estate there is something here for you.

Getting A Mortgage As A Self Employed Individual

Being self-employed means having a different set of paperwork challenge when it comes to applying for a mortgage to buy a home.  Most traditional W-2 workers need to provide their W-2 and a couple of years of tax returns and they can get pre-approved pretty quick.  For self-employed individuals there are more paperwork requirements as this article by Kyle Hiscock on the best mortgage options for self-employed borrowers explain.  Self-employed individuals can still apply for a mortgage it is just that they must provide much more paperwork to document their ability to pay back the loan.

Seven Ways To Capitalize On Higher Interest Rates For Real Estate

With interest rates rising that means mortgages rates have risen slowly over time off of record lows. Higher interest rates does not mean the end of buying real estate though as Anita Clark points out in her article providing ideas on how real estate buyers can use the higher interest rates to their advantage.  Yes interest rates are higher and in order to purchase the same amount of home with a buyer’s budget they will need to look to lower priced homes, sellers need to reduce their prices or follow one of the other strategies presented in Anita’s article so as to get a house for their needs

Completely False Home Selling Myths

If you are getting ready to sell a home in 2019 then this article by Bill Gassett exploring and debunking sixteen home selling myths is a must read for you. Selling is not a stress free and easy process as Bill points out and the many myths associated with selling a home will only further slowdown the process.  Pricing is critical and is not something set by computer algorithms, it is not set by the seller, nor is it based on the price you paid.  Don’t get caught in these home selling myths otherwise you might find yourself with an unsold home that needs major price discounts in order to get any offers presented.

Essential Skills Needed When Owning A Home

Once you buy a home things to be done do not end there.  The home must be maintained, repaired and updated in order that the home may retain its value.  By knowing and understanding the essential skills needed for homeownership homeowners can go a long way to making sure the value of their home does not decrease while they own it as this article by Paul Sian points out.  If a home is to be considered an investment then it must be treated with care and respect to make sure it stands up to the test of time.

2019 Bathroom Design Trends

Whether you are looking to update your bathrooms for yourself or in anticipation of putting your home on the market soon this article from Karen Highland covering bathroom design trends for 2019 that will be hot is a smart read.  Bathrooms are one of the major selling points of a home and having modern and updated bathroom features are sure to impress buyers or guests who are invited to your home. Not only that, you as the homeowner can enjoy the features like waterfall showerheads, heated floors and more.

5 Reasons Your Home Is Back On The Market

In this article by Sharon Paxson she covers some of the common reasons why an offer to buy a home may fall through.  Sometimes it can be either the fault of the buyers or the sellers, or unreasonable repair requests, refusal to make any repairs, financing falling through, the house not appraising according to the asking price and more.  Whatever the reason, being prepared and moving quickly in case the house does come back to market can help the home seller be ready to move forward with a different offer after any issues have been addressed.

Things To Do Right After Closing On Your House Purchase

You purchased a new home and now the fun begins.  While setting up utilities and scheduling movers are high up on the list of things to do there are other important things new homeowners should be doing right after closing as Michelle Gibson explains in her article.  From lock changes to making sure you are aware of what needs to be repaired or monitored over time this article provides an excellent game plan for the new homeowner.

Smart Tips For The First Time Home Seller

If you are planning on putting your home on the market for the first time ever this article from Luke Skar about seven tips for first time home sellers is a good read before you get to the starting point.  Selling a home is quite different that selling other items that are more take and go type of objects like furniture.  With a house you are dealing with much higher values and the need for many different people to view the home at different times before an offer is ready to be made.  By understanding the process and working with professionals you can make your house sale a less stressful process.

Final Thoughts

That’s a wrap for the December 2018 Real Estate Roundup and the great articles of 2018.  Be sure to check out prior month’s roundups for other great reads that are still relevant.  If there is an article you feel was worthy of mention please feel free to mention in the comments below.

The Real Estate Roundup For December 2018 was provided by Greater Cincinnati Area Luxury Realtor Paul Sian of United Real Estate Home Connections. Paul is a licensed real estate agent in the states of Ohio and Kentucky and has over 11 years of experience. Feel free to contact Paul for all your Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky real estate needs.